Renee King's murder conviction upheld for child-abuse death of Lily in New Haven

The convictions and sentencing of Renee King for the abuse and murder of Lily Furneaux-Wolfenbarger were upheld by the state Court of Appeals, the court announced Wednesday.

King, 32, was convicted in 2012 by a Macomb County jury of first-degree felony murder, first-degree child abuse and first-degree criminal sexual conduct for the death of 2-year-old Lily in November 2010 in the New Haven mobile home King shared with her husband and Lily’s father, Jeffrey Wolfenbarger. Lily died from blunt force trauma due multiple blows to her head.

Lily’s death prompted her mother, Lauren Furneaux, and grandmother, Lynette Furneaux, of Lapeer, to form Justice for Lily and campaign against child abuse. Lauren Furneaux in October appeared on the Dr. Phil television show to talk about the case.

Lily’s estate sued Wolfenbarger in 2012 in Macomb County Circuit Court, but the case has been stayed due to Wolfenbarger filing for bankruptcy, according to court records.

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The appeals panel denied claims of violation of due process, failure to suppress King’s statement to police and ineffective assistance of her defense attorney. The vote to deny the appeal was 3-0, although one of the jurists dissented in a concurring opinion, saying the sentencing should be corrected.

Judge Diane Druzinski sentenced King to life without parole in addition to terms of 30 to 50 years for the sexual assault and seven to 15 years for child abuse. She is serving Huron Valley Women’s Complex in Ypsilanti, state records say.